Slow Pitch Softball
established 1968

2007 ARIZONA USSSA NIT
SCHEDULE ANNOUNCEMENT

 For more information please contact:
Mike McCormick or Ed Johnson

Arizona USSSA presents:

2007 MEN’S D NIT SCHEDULE (March – July)

March 3-4                    Spring Training Classic
(Phoenix Papago 62^nd St & Oak)

March 31- April 1  Wilson/DeMarini April Fools Classic
Mesa Riverview…Dobson Rd & Rio Salado Pkwy South of 202

April 28-29              Elby Bushong Hall of Fame Classic
Peoria Rio Vista 8866 W Thunderbird Road West of 101

May 19-20               Men’s C/D Spring to Summer
Sportspark, Tucson

June 9-10                 M&J Trophies Summer Classic
Phoenix Desert West 67^th Avenue & Encanto

July 14-15                Bobby Felix Memorial
Sportspark, Tucson

Entry Fee:                $325 ($350 for May 19-20)

Entry Deadline: 5 pm Tuesday prior to tournament

Contacts:            Doug Stark          480-961-4075           farwestusssa@cox.net

                              Mike McCormick        480-812-8984

                              Ed Johnson         623-877-1336      usssaaz@cox.net

Payment: Cash or Cashier’s Check/Money Order only payable to USSSA. 
You may also enter on line at www.usssa.com

                              Mail to: PMB 13, 9920 S Rural Rd #108, Tempe, AZ 85284-4100

All Teams MUST be registered with USSSA for the 2007 Season.  Receipt of Registration with ID number will be required to enter the tournament.  If you are not registered, please contact your State Director to complete the process.

WINNER ADVANCES TO THE 2007 MEN’S D WORLD TOURNAMENT 

 Sterling Heights, MI  September 21-23, 2007

Team Awards: World Tournament Berth, Paid World Entry Fee, and USSSA Travel Money

Individual Awards:        Wilson/DeMarini & USSSA Merchandise

Additional sponsorship assistance provided by Budweiser, Bud Light and M & J Trophies

HOTEL INFORMATION:  Southwest Host Services – Linda Hitchins - 480-945-2359
One FREE room for every five paid rooms

Arizona will institute a pilot program for 07 that will be entitled “Old School Softball”.  On certain weekends (schedule in the process of being finalized), we will offer tournament opportunities to just play ball.  No roster restrictions, no points - just old fashioned playing for the enjoyment of the game.  Teams will classify themselves into one of two divisions.  The open division will play two home runs and then the one up rule.  The recreational division will use the inning ending out.  The open division will pay a little higher entry and have more upscale awards, and the recreational division will pay less and play for T-shirts.  Combine teams, play with your city league roster, or just a group of friends…no worries about violating classification or eligibility rules.  Let’s just play!!  More information will be forthcoming…watch for this fun and exciting idea!

For information about Northern California USSSA Contact Jay Zetz at A thru Z Sports.

	Welcome to AthruZ Sports Northern California, Northern Nevada, Oregon , Idaho & Utah USSSA The Official State Website of USSSA Baseball & The Home of AthruZ Softball The Official Sponsor of Northern California/Northern Nevada USSSA Baseball and Softball AthruZ Enterprises Inc 9630 Bruceville Rd, #106 - 370, Elk Grove CA. 95757 | 916-686-8772
	CA, NV & AZ Midnight Madness Tournaments Around The Clock Slow Pitch "Extravaganzas" midnightmadnessinfo.com MIDNIGHT MADNESS CARSON CITY May 27-29, 2006 Memorial Day Weekend Carson City, NV MORE INFO 3 Game Guarantee!   “44 Hours of Funk” Midnight Madness is Back! October 6-8, 2006 Sacramento CA MORE INFO 3 Game Guarantee!   MIDNIGHT MADNESS ARIZONA November 3- 5, 2006 Sports Park Tucson, AZ MORE INFO 3 Game Guarantee! December 2 - 4, 2006 Las Vegas USSSA National Championships Updated Tournament Information Message Board: www.softballtalk2.com click here for complete yearly schedule

Thank you for choosing to play USSSA softball!!!

USSSA Altered Bats Procedures

The days of using altered bats in USSSA play are about to come to an end. As a result of rule changes to be implemented beginning in the 2004 USSSA playing season, USSSA is intent on removing all altered bats from USSSA play.  Beginning in 2004, if you feel that a player may be using an altered bat in USSSA play, you should report it to the appropriate local or state USSSA director.  The Director will have the authority to inspect the bat and to suspend the suspected offending player.  The suspected offending player will have a couple of choices:  First, he can allow the director to inspect the bat and reach his initial conclusion on whether the bat might be altered or he can keep his bat from inspection and accept a 1 year suspension from USSSA play with no right appeal; Second, if after allowing inspection, the director has decided that the bat might be an altered bat, the suspected offending player may allow the director to send the bat to the USSSA Altered Bat Committee and/or the Manufacturer of the bat for a determination on whether the bat is altered or he can accept a 1 year suspension from USSSA play with no right of appeal.  During the time of the examination of the bat by the manufacturer, depending on the sole discretion of the USSSA Altered Bat Committee the USSSA may suspend the suspected offending player pending the decision.  If the manufacturer or the Altered Bat Committee of the USSSA determine in their sole discretion that the bat has been altered the Altered Bat Committee may suspend a first time offender for up to 2 years from USSSA play. Such suspension decision may be appealed at the next USSSA annual meeting. For a second time offender, any suspension under this altered bat suspension process will be for life.

 The responsibility for knowing whether a bat is altered is that of the user and the owner of the bat.  If an individual uses a bat in USSSA play or is the owner of a bat that is brought into a USSSA facility, the suspensions will be imposed with out regard to what the individual knew about the bat being altered.  An individual must know that his bat is not an Altered bat, if he brings it into a USSSA facility or uses it in a USSSA game.  If not, the individual can be suspended from USSSA activities.  The fact that the individual did not know that the bat was altered is not a factor in imposing the suspension. The question is only whether the bat is altered or not.

Altered bats are bats, which have 1. had the surface of the barrel or the taper changed in any way such as by sandpapering or applying a solvent to the surface such as fingernail polish remover or by any other means, 2. had the plug removed/replaced or changed in any way, 3.  had the knob removed/replaced or changed in any way, or  4. had anything removed or added to the inside or outside of the bat other that tape at the handle or knob.  Cracked, worn (paint/lettering wear is not a problem so long as the bat can be identified and has the appropriate BPF marking, but any wearing of the bat material or identifying paint or BPF wear will be cause for removal) or damaged bats are not altered bats, but will also be removed from play by USSSA directors and umpires.  Such cracked, worn or damaged bats will not result in a player suspension, unless the player returns the offending bat into USSSA play after it has been removed or the bat is also altered.

Don DeDonatis
Executive Director USSSA